Shock absorber for lamp sockets



Jan. 13, 1931. L. c. DOANE 1,788,945

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR LAMP SOCKETS Filed Feb. 26. 1929 Iii - INVENTOR.

Zero C Deane By J A TTORNEY Patented an. 13, 1931 r 1 UNITED STATES minor 0.

.PATENTOFFICE DOANE, OF'MEBIDEN, connncrrcunnssienoa 'ro THE MILLER 'coMrAnY,

'OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT; A CORYORATIO N OF CONNECTICUT snocx ABSORBER non LAMP SOCKETS Application filed February 26, 1929. seria1no.;342,?97

The present invention relates to'shock ab- 'sorbers'for lamp sockets and is more particularly directed toward a shock absorber for supporting lamp sockets 1n locat ons in whlch electrical lamps are sub ect to-vibratn, a s

, for example, in factories, l0tt buildings, and the like, i

The present invention contemplates a shock absorber which is capable of being in-.

terposed between a fixed support such as a suspension element for fixtures, and the lamp socket, the device being so designed and arranged that it-t-akes up very little space, is inconspicuous, capable of ready assembly and unlikely to get out of order or requireattention.

According to the preferred form of the construction, the present invention may readily beembodied in the form of sheet metal stampings secured together and to which'the lamp socket may be secured in such a manner that the socket and, shock absorbing device may be readily connected to the suspension I F mentstud for securing the socket andshock element such as the pipe, Thelower part of the socket may be readily removed and wiring effected in the same manner asthough the shock absorber were not present.

The accompanymg drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention,

,one of the many possible embodiments in which it may take form, it being understood that the drawings are-illustrative of the in vention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional view through a preferred form of construction;

Figure 2'is an elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 1 showing the spring elements; r I Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 showing the manner in which the spring elements are secured together; and; j

' Figures lto 8,'inclusive, are elevational 1 views taken in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 1, Figure 4 showing the V-attachabsorber to a fixed support, Figure 5 showing the cap or cover member for the shock absorbing device, Figures 6 and 7 showing usual socket contacts 12 for cooperation with shock absorbing device betiween the'parts 10 the stampings employed up'lthe -f v c unit shown in F igure 7 and FigureB ShOW'? inga iace'view oiasocket part. 1 i V For convenience, in; describing the present invention, it is shown as embodied in a form of construction suitable for securingporcelain lamp sockets to fixturesuppor-ts such as a length of pipe. Such a socketmay consist of two porcelain parts 10 andll with the a lamp base. These contacts are connected by screws 13 which passthrough the lower insulating part-l1 and thread into terminals 14 on the iupper porcelain'part. These latter mentioned terminals have binding posts 15 to receivewires adapted to be brought in through thecenter hole lfi'in the usual manner. The upper porcelain part 10 of the socketvis provided withholes l7 adaptedto receive fastening screwsl8 with which the upper part of the socket is to be'secured to some'supporting device. 7

The suspension element of the lighting unit I is indicated at 20 in theform ofa piece of pipe onto which a stud 21 is threaded, as shown in Figures land {1; This stud may have an hexagonal head and be threaded asindicated. This stud is provided with two tapped holes indicated atf22lwhich may be spaced the same asthe holes 17 and adapted to receive the screws 18 when no shock absorber is employed.

. The present invention, however, as above indicated, contemplates-the inclusion of a and 21.' In the form'of construction herein shown, the shock absorbing device consists the porcelain part and adapted toguide the v wires as they are passed down into the socket. The stamping 27 also has a peripheral skirt 29 somewhat larger in diameter than the socket parts and adapted to receive the same. This skirt27 has, as here shown, four inwardly bent projections 30 and the stamping is provided with holes 31 spaced the same as the tapped holes 22. I

The stamping 25' shown in Figure 6 isof general circular shape slightly smaller "in di ameter than the inside or the skirt '29. This stamping 25 is provided with, a center wire recelvlng hole or passage 82 through which the downwardly drawn par-t 28iof-the stamp; ing 27 may project. The stamping 25 is provided withf-holes 33 'spaced the sa-me as the holes "31 and-'22 and with notches 34 spaced the samea-s the projections'30. In the stamping 25, these notches are "definitely spaced relative to the holes and the projecti'on's on the stamping 27. The stamping 25 is provided with four tongues arranged in be cut frommateri'a-l ofthe stampinga's indicated 1n Flgures 1 and-3. These tongues maybe-provided with punched out holes as indicated at'37' and 38 if desired.

The stamping '26 is somewhat similar. to the stamping 25, is of the same size, endie provided with the central hole 42 and outer notches 44 spaced the same as the former stamping. This stamping-26 has pairs of spring tongues 45and 46-similar to the spring tongues iie and'36; These tongues are all bent upwardly as indicated in Figures and 3. Theinternally threaded bushings 43 arepermanently secured tot he*'stamping'2'6by -riv- 'e'ti-ng. These bushings "are spaced the same as the holes 17 in the socketpart 10 and are adapted to'enter into the large slots 38 in the stamping .25. The tongues 35 and 36.

and '46 are provided "with holes-47 and the two stainpings 2'5and 26 a're secured together 'by rivets 48 passed through the holes in the spring tongues. It will. be noted that the long tongues on one disk are -s'ecur'edto the shorttongues on the other diskr-al'so that the rivets '48-are about a'part. The stamp 'ings shown in Figures band? are made out-of resilient sheet material and whenthestampings are secured together-a shock absorbing unit is, produced as-lndicated in Figures 1 and 2.

Theassembly of the parts which have been described-takes place in the following man- Her:

The unit shown in Figure'2 is placed into the cap 01' cover stamping 27 -by"caus1ng the notches 34 and 44 to register with the'prongs 30. The shock'absorber-is then turned about so that theholes 33 inthe stamping 25 registerwith'theholes 31 in the cover. Screws 'may thenbeinserted in place and tightened up to hold the shock absorbing unit and coveragainst the stud 21. The heads of-these way with respect thereto.

screws are accessible through the large hole 46 in the spring tongues-46. The upper part 10 of the porcelain socket may then be secured in place by passing screwsl8wthrough the holes 17 in the part 10 and threading these screws into the bushings The wires may then be passed down to the contacts, se-

cured-in place and the lower part 11 of the socket be fastened to the upper part ted and the uppershock absorbing spring 1 connected directly with the support.

The present form 01"- construction is especially' adazpted for providing a resilient support for lamp sockets in places subject to excess ve vibration. The device is very-easil assembled, permits the 'socketto move toa considerable extent in all directions there-- preventing "the transmission of shocks from the support tothe lamp bulb. The 1 Shock absorbing springs not only-support a lamp socket and bulb but form a connection which t'akes up the-twist occasioned by turninnate lamp into or out of 'the socket. The thinness of the. device make's "it possible to employ the shock absorber. in fixtures without redesign of the pa'rtsito accommodate the shock absorber. It is obvious'that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions within the scopeof the claims,

and I wish it to be understood that the par-' sorber cover member surrounding and ca'ncealing the shock absorber and having pro jections engageable' with the shock absorber V to limit vertical movement. 7

2. In combination, afixed support, a. lamp socket, and a shock absorber 'supportingthe lamp socket from thesupport, the shokabso rber being in the form of a wafer-like assembly of two sheet metal diskseach having integral spring tongues 'cut" from the material of the disk, the spring tongues being secured together, the body of one stamping being secured to the support while the body 'ofthe other stamping is secured to the socket.

A -resilient support for lamp sockets comprisinga fixed disk having a plurality-of "downwardly depressed spring tongues,-=a de- I pendentelement carrying a disk having upwardly pressed spring tongues placed :oppq

site the other tonguesand secured attheir ends to the ends of the upper tongues.

, pendent element carrying a wardly pressed spring tongues placed opposite the other tongues and secured at their ends to the ends of the upper tongues, the

tongues being arranged so that their ends are approximately 90 apart, whereby the socket may tilt in any direction. 4 v v 5. A shock absorber for lamp sockets and the like, comprising, a wafer-like assembly of two sheet metal disks, each having spring tongues bent toward the other disk, the ends posite the first holes to permit passing screws of the opposite tongues being securedto-f into place, the saidiother disk also having threaded bushings.

6. In a shock absorber, a pair of sheet metal I disks each having arc-shaped spring tongues i struck out of the body of the disk and pressed toward corresponding tongues on the other disk, and rivets securing the ends of" the tongues of each pair together.

7. In a shock absorber, a pair of sheet metal disks eachhaving arc-shaped spring tongues struck out of the body of the disk and pressed toward coresponding tongues on the other disk, and rivets securing the ends of the tongues of each pair together, the disk being provided with means to permit securing one disk to a fixed part and the otherdisk to a supported part.

8. in combination, a fixed tubular supportmg member, an apertured cover member, a

a shock absorber in the form of two sheet metal disks having spring tongues secured together,

the upper disk and cover member being secured to the support, and alamp socket secured to the lower disk, the disks being apertured so that wires may be passed from the supporting member to the socket.

9. A shock absorber adapted to be interposed between a lamp socket and its support, said shock absorber comprising two sheet metal disks se'cured'together and to the support and socket so as tosupport the socket, the interconnections between the disks being such that the socket may tilt in any direction or may vmove axially, the socket being held against angularmovement about the axis.

supporting member, said having, spring tongues, a second disk having spring tongues secured to the tongues on the first disk, a socket secured to the second disk, and a retainer secured to the supportin member and limiting the axialmovement o the socket.

12. Ina shock "absorber for lamp sockets, in combination, a fixed support, an inverted cup-shaped stamping carried below the sup? port and having internally directed prongs near its lower end,.a shock absorber assembly comprising two closely spaced sheet metal disks having spring tongues secured together,

screws for fixedly securing the upper disk and stamping to the support, the lower disk carrying threaded bushings, a lamp socket, and screws threaded into the bushings for securing the-socket to the lower disk,the disks being notched to permit passing the assembly by the prongs in the stamping, the parts being assembled with the prongsand notches out of registry'so that the prongs limit downward movement of the socket relative to the support. y I

13. In a shock absorber for lamp sockets,

a pair of sheet metal disks each having alter nate long and short arc-shaped tongues struck out of the body of the disk and extending toward the other disk, the long tongues from one disk being secured to the short tongues of the other disk, the diskv having fastening holes between the-tips of the long tongues and the roots of'the short tongues.

14. In a shock absorber for lamp sockets, a pair of sheet metal disks each having alternate long and short arc-shaped tongues struck out of the body of the disk and extending toward the other disk, the long tongues from one disk being secured to the short tongues of the other disk, the disk having. fastening by the parts are flexible about two rlghtanglesto one another. 1

Signed at Meriden, in the county of New.

Haven and State of Connecticut, this 21st day of February, 1929.

Y LEROY' C. DOANE.

10. In a shock absorber for lamp sockets, I I

in combination, a fixed socket supporting member, a sheet metal disk secured to the supporting member, said disk having spring I tongues, a second disk having spring tongues secured to the tongues on the first disk, a socket secured to the second-disk.

11. In a shock absorber for lamp sockets, in combination, a fixed socket supporting and member, a sheet metal disk secured to the" its 

